A Colorful Brunch Party with Throwback Style
Pottery Barn’s vibrant tabletop collection inspires a retro spin on everyone’s favorite weekend meal
On a lazy Sunday morning, what could possibly taste better than pitchers of spiked fruit juices and platters of fruit-topped toasts and bacon? Weekend brunch isn’t just a meal; it’s an event, or rather a highly anticipated ritual that unapologetically champions sleeping in and savoring a generous spread with your crew for the majority of the morning (and well into the afternoon). Proper brunching etiquette will be debated amongst friends. Do you abide by the noon-or-later rule? Do you dine out, or prefer to play chef at home? And most importantly: bottomless mimosas or not? Whatever your guidelines, we can all agree that the sum of eggs Benedict and friends should always equal happiness.
When Pottery Barn invited us to play host with their latest tabletop collection, the primary color palette evoked a similar sort of bliss. The vibrant, resort-inspired hues and sun-splashed patterns evoked the joys of a post-pancakes food coma. Melamine salad plates (which honestly fooled us for ceramic) and a rainbow-stripe tablecloth reminded us of an era when the most stylish kitchen cupboards boasted stacks of Cathrineholm enamel bowls and a full spectrum of Homer Laughlin’s Fiesta ceramics. With Pottery Barn’s joyful entertaining pieces as our starting point, we cooked up a retro-inspired brunch to serve at our home away from home.
THE SETTING
A former sewing factory turned Airbnb rental in Brooklyn’s Clinton Hill neighborhood served as our eclectic and spacious brunch locale. The furnishings of the brick-walled loft, including a midcentury-style sideboard, a cocktail table, and large potted palm trees, set a stylish yet relaxed atmosphere. We served food on the low table, inviting guests to get comfy on floor cushions and stretch out in between card hands and coffee refills.
the DECOR
Tumble-block artwork by Megan Adams mimics the geometric patterns on the tabletop and the yellow embroidered floorcovering. Blue-and-white dice, a handsome match to Pottery Barn’s Tulum glasses, were repurposed to create cheeky coasters for the midcentury modern bar.
THE FOOD
Baked eggs and blueberry French toast made with baguette slices were served family-style so guests could dish up and return for seconds as they please. (Also on the menu: pancakes, strawberry-topped ricotta toasts, blanched asparagus, grapefruit halves served in blue margarita glasses, and sides of ham and bacon.) James Bond's bar order in Casino Royale made gin cocktails on-trend in the '50s; we added grapefruit juice and Prosecco to create a refreshing afternoon-worthy punch.
